In
the wake of shootings of and by police and growing protests around the country,
it's a good thing we have Rudy Giuliani around to point out a big part of the
problem we face collectively as Americans. Clueless people who think that being
black is a choice. His recent diatribe on one of the Sunday Morning Pundit
Parades is a singular case in point.

He
gifted the viewing audience on Sundays' Face The Nation with several sparkling intellectual
concepts, like the one about how Blacks need to do more to police themselves.
This may be tough for young people, the elderly, or parents, who are relieved
to simply get their family inside with the door locked in the evening. Maybe if
there were just more superhero costumes to go around?

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And
while he probably doesn't have any black kids, he still thinks, in simplistic
terms, that he knows what Black parents should tell their children. "If I
were a black father and I was concerned about the safety of my child, really
concerned about it and not in a politically activist sense (as if political
action is a parent's main concern), I would say be very respectful to the
police, most of them are good, some can be very bad and just be very careful,"
he said.

He
didn't say whether he thought they should add that "This life is going to
be tough on you. There will be people in just about any room you walk into that
already hate you for no other reason then that's how they were brought up.
There will be limited opportunities for decent housing and jobs, and there are
police out there who will often shoot first and ask questions later, often with
impunity."

"I'd
also say be very careful of those kids in the neighborhood, don't get involved
with them because son, there's a 99% chance they're going to kill you, not the police." he added. According to Rudy, as long as you can avoid
other people you should be ok, especially "those kids", the ones in
"that neighborhood", where you live.

He
failed to add that while the 'Do things right and everything will work' out
meme works somewhat better if you're white, and really only as long as there is
someone out there who will eventually say, "Ok, I'll hire you", and
that minorities actually live in a substantially different America than he does.

But,
really, thanks Rudy. You've helped us learn that as long as there are enough Rudys
out there who are unable to recognize that there really is racism in this
country, and a disconnect on the part those who have no idea what it's like but
still insist on blaming the unfortunate, than movements are in order.

So
save your bootstrap suggestions for the country club. You're an old rich white
guy. Of course the world seems easy to you. But, someday, try to admit that you
can't fully comprehend the lifelong struggle that many minorities face. Admit
that those communities are built on decades of systemic stove piping and that
crime, while a choice, is also an act of desperation.

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And
when you think about saying something as silly as asking African Americans to
explain "how and what they're doing among themselves about the crime
problem in the black community.", think again. It's probably the most
inane statement made this century.

Oh,
and one other thing. Violence doesn't come from Rap music. Rap music comes from
violence, and of the daily lifelong struggles of actual people living in our American
cities. Instead of making clueless remarks about it, you should, perhaps,
listen to it.

Father of three, (soon starting up 3KC, three kids club), avowed inactivist, talking about a lot of things I'm doing little else about. Writer of everything from fiction to songs but still resisting growing up while trying to learn and grow wiser. (more...)